China’s “Copyhawk” helicopter

As usual China makes a replica of Z—20 Blackhawk medium—lift utility chopper. China conducted its first flight test on the new helicopter that was widely seen modeled off United States made Sikorsky UH—60, commonly known as “Black Hawk.”

Citing the pictures from the online Chinese military forum, the Z—20 medium—lift utility helicopter made its first flight in the northeast of China. Report said that supposedly homemade design filled the PLA’s need for a medium utility helicopter. The helicopter has a capacity of 10 tons and similar appearance with the United States made Black Hawk helicopter.

In 1980s China purchased 24 S—70C-2s, a supposedly civilian variant of the UH—60 Black Hawk that impressed Chinese leaders due to its ability to fly at high altitudes. However, it is believed that the 24 S—70 C—2s are operated by (PLAAF). Pakistan’s intelligence service gave Chinese engineers access to the highly—modified Black Hawks that used by United States Marines in the operation that killed Osama bin Laden the al—Qaeda leader in 2011. The helicopter that Chinese engineers viewed and took the samples from the crashed chopper during the operation, though U.S. Marines detonated the downed helicopter and the tail survived from the explosion.

The latest “indigenous” creation from China heavily inspired by the foreign designs would be extensive precedent.